By Saadia Khalid
ISLAMABAD:
The Arts have deep roots in the history and culture of Pakistan
and the famous Kashi work has been more deeply entrenched than
other art forms due to its appealing blue color and traditional
designs.
Usually
known as Kashgari, the famous art form is said to have its roots
in the ancient and elegant Gandhara Art and while similar art
is found in Cambodia and Thailand it lacks the sophistication
of Gandhara.
According
to some historians, the kashgari art in glazed blue ceramics is
related to the kashigari originating in Central Asia and Kashgar
(China) while some relate it with early art of the subcontinent
at the beginning of the first century AD.
It
is used to decorate walls of tombs and also displayed as one of
t examples of art in the museums of Pakistan and in international
museums including the British Museum.
Whether
in the form of hand painted pottery or the works on the walls
of a building (usually shrines), blue tile work or decoration
pieces, they are equally popular nationwide and internationally.
Multan
and its outskirts are considered the hub for this kind of art
and that is why a majority of the tombs and shrines situated in
Multan are decorated with this wonderful art.
This
art is usually a family profession of many which is taught from
generation to generation with exactness and quality.
Kashgari
does not only involve painting with blue and white colour but
a special technique is applied to prepare the blue colour from
a mixture of cobalt oxide and copper oxide at temperatures around
1,200 degrees centigrade.
A
quick look at this art may fail to capture the diversity it holds
but careful observation reveals that the uniform appearance of
the art is actually deceptive and there is great variation in
sizes and patterns.
Moreover,
there is a wide range of practical use products including table
lamps, crockery, candle stands, vases, fruit baskets and jars
available in market and they have always succeeded in grasping
the attention of locals and tourists.
